DASD ELEMENTARY ORCHESTRA 2019-2020 HANDBOOK FOR RETURNING STUDENTS ALL ABOUT ORCHESTRA GENERAL POLICY 1. It is the policy of the school that a student must have passing grades in order to participate in the string orchestra program. 2. During the school year, if a student’s teachers believe he/she is significantly behind in class work due to lessons, we will arrange for a parent/teacher conference to discuss what options are best for the student at that time. LESSON SCHEDULE AND ATTENDANCE 1. 30 minute lessons are held once a week, but at a different time each week so that students do not always miss the same class. Students take lessons in small groups based on their instrument selection. Typical class sizes can be anywhere from 1-12 students in a group. 2. RESPONSIBILITY is on the students to attend each lesson and arrive on time, and to make up any missed class work. 3. Students may reschedule their lesson time if they have a test, project, or presentation during their original lesson time. 4. If a student is absent or becomes ill in school, it is an excused absence. I will send the assignment directly to the student’s family. 5. If a student forgets to attend his/her lesson time, they must come to me immediately and may make it up at another lesson time. 6. If a student forgets to attend his/her lesson and does not notify me, the absence will be considered unexcused. Families will be notified if this happens. 7. I may reschedule lessons due to assemblies, school wide assessments, and special school events. If I am absent, lessons are cancelled. 8. It is the responsibility of the student’s family to provide transportation to our early morning orchestra rehearsals. If a student misses a rehearsal but attends school, a note is required. If a student is absent from a rehearsal and school, the absence is automatically excused. Two or more unexcused absences from rehearsals will jeopardize whether or not the student can perform in the concert. A parent/teacher conference will be scheduled if this happens. 9. If there is a snow day on a “B Day” the following day when students return to school would be “B Day,” which means that lessons would be held on a different calendar date, but the same cycle day. I will contact families with reminders of cycle days due to bad weather, and will adjust the schedule if needed. 10. If there is a two hour delay on an orchestra day, the rehearsal is automatically cancelled. However lessons will still occur during the afternoon hours on a condensed schedule and students should bring their instruments and music to school! PRACTICE AND GRADING 1. Students are encouraged to practice at least 15-20 minutes daily. A minimum of 100 minutes of practice a week is highly encouraged. 2. Each student will be given a form to write down their homework assignments each week. They DO NOT have to write down their practice times at home. 3. Each week students receive a performance grade at their lesson. (A, B, C, or D) Students will also have informal assessments during lessons and formal assessments on their concert music. All grades will be posted on Infinite Campus. Families will be notified prior to any assessments that may occur. Families will be contacted in weekly email blasts regarding schedules, activities, and assessments in orchestra. 4. Families will be contacted if there is a concern regarding the student’s practice at home and/or performance in class and on assessments. 5. Students receive a grade for orchestra EVERY trimester this year on the report cards. CURRICULUM Returning string orchestra students will be working in levels two and three of the DASD orchestra curriculum. Students will review basic instrument technique including left hand position and finger patterns. Students will learn new articulations with the bow. Students will learn basic music theory skills such as learning how to read musical notation on a staff. Musical expression, cultural influence, critical analysis, various styles, and preparations for performances are included in the curriculum as well. Technology is used in the music classroom as a tool for learning. Mathematics skills are an integral part of music too! Students who learn how to play a musical instrument work on math, reading, aural, and kinesthetic skills in class! Copies of the elementary orchestra curriculum summary are available upon request. PERFORMANCES Returning elementary orchestra students perform together on stage multiple times a year! Evening performances include annual winter and spring concerts, art shows, and Barnes and Noble Book Fair Concerts, and other special events! ACTIVITY FEE DASD charges a $25.00 activity fee for all music students. The $25.00 fee includes band, chorus, and orchestra. If your child participates in more than one music activity, no problem! The fee is $25.00 total for all elementary music activities. This fee is paid through www.payforit.net. More information regarding fees is available at www.dasd.org. All fees are due by Friday, October 25, 2019. INSTRUMENT RENTALS 1. VIOLINS and VIOLAS, and CELLOS may be rented through a music store. 2. CELLOS are not allowed to be taken on the school bus. I will keep a DASD owned cello at school for your child to use during lessons, and the cello that you rent from the store would stay at home for practice. 3. BASSES are available through DASD for $150.00 per year without insurance, which means that you would receive the invoice for any repairs that are needed while the bass is in your care. I will send you a contract. Each student will receive a bass to take home for practice, and a different bass (no fee) will remain at the school for lesson use. If there are more bass players than available school basses, some families may be asked to rent a bass through a music store for home use. 4. You may obtain an instrument through any music store that you wish. However, the music stores listed below have representatives who come to the schools on a weekly basis. If you order online through one of these stores, the instrument and supplies will be sent directly to your child’s school. 5. Each store has a different length of contract, pricing, and terms. Moretti’s in Downingtown rents instruments! They do not have a rep come to our schools but you can rent directly from the store: Moretti’s Music-610-873-6852, http://www.morettimusic.net 6. Please note, that it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that students begin their music lessons on an instrument that works properly. The DASD music department HIGHLY SUGGESTS using a MUSIC STORE for an instrument rental. BEWARE of other discounted online offers that are NOT from music stores, as those instruments usually arrive in need of repairs that EXCEED the value of the instrument itself. LESSON BOOKS The method book that we use for first and second year students (3rd and 4th grade) is entitled “Simply Strings.” All of our area music stores have this book in stock. Third year students (5th grade) will use the book “Essential Elements for Strings, Level 2.” Mrs. Baer will contact parents when the 5th graders are ready to order this book! PLEASE PURCHASE A BOOK WHEN YOU RENT THE INSTRUMENT. MUSIC STANDS A music stand is needed for all students to be able to practice at home. PLEASE PURCHASE A MUSIC STAND WHEN YOU RENT THE INSTRUMENT. SUPPLIES Instruments that are delivered to the schools should include these supplies in the case. If you go to the music store to pick up the instrument, please be sure that you are receiving these supplies. Students who are renting a cello or bass from DASD will be provided with all of these supplies, although they will need to purchase a book and a music stand from the store. 1. Rosin: This is applied to the bow in order to produce a sound, and it comes in a small plastic container. 2. Fingertapes: Tapes on the fingerboard used for finger placement. 3. Cleaning Cloth: This is a soft cloth to wipe down the instrument after playing. 4. Shoulder Rest or Sponge: (violin and viola only) This is used to place under the chin rest, so the instrument may be held with the correct posture but without neck irritation. 5. Endpin holder: (cello and bass only) This is a round rubber disk or a strap used to keep endpin in place so it does not slide on a hard floor. MUSIC ZESWITZ MUSIC MENCHEY MUSIC TAYLORS MUSIC AND STORE- MUSIC ARTS CENTER PHONE- 610-406-4300 1-888-MENCHEY 610-696-1812 484-875-0101 WEBSITE- http://www.zeswitz http://www.menchey http://www.taylors http://www.music music.com music.com music.com arts.com INITIAL 2 months or 12 months 4 months 4.5 months RENTAL 10 months or 10 months or 10 months PERIOD- Offers upgraded instruments, prices below are for level 1 instruments for elementary students VIOLIN $19.99 2 month $59.00 4 month $40.00 4 month COST $159.99 10 month $119.99 12 month $107.07 10 month $120.00 10 month VIOLA COST $19.99 2 month $59.00 4 month $40.00 4 month $159.99 10 month $119.99 12 month $107.07 10 month $120.00 10 month CELLO COST $29.99 2 month $84.43 4 month $90.00 4 month $224.99 10 month $189.99 12 month $158.63 10 month $190.00 10 month INSURANCE FREE $16.00-$20.00 $13.00-$24.00 $14.99 12 month 4 month 4 month $25.00-30.00 $25.00-$35.00 10 month 10 month MUSIC FREE $8.95 $8.95 $8.95 BOOK MUSIC FREE $15.00 $13.99 $13-15.00 STAND DELIVERY Fridays Fridays Mondays Wednesdays DAY TO DASD HELPING THE YOUNG MUSICIAN 1.